SAP Sybase Replication Server – Packaging Update

Recently, the packaging for SAP Sybase Replication Server (SRS) has changed to reduce the complexity of matching SRS components to the most commonly found replication use cases.

Before I get into it – here is a quick SRS Packaging 101 to get all of us on the same page.

SRS is packaged into various SRS Editions. Editions are further extended with SRS Options. Editions typically represent a common use case, or usage scenario. Depending on the scenario, Options are sometimes embedded or bundled into the relevant Edition.

If the target database is not supported by SRS, the CDC Edition offers integration with SAP Data Services, which has extensive support for many different data management environments.

With the latest update to packaging, it is not often where the SRS Options are required – only SRS, Enterprise Edition does not include SRS Options. The options all provide functionality to replicate from and/or to different source or target systems.

Here is a list of available options:

Edition

What is it used for

SAP Sybase Replication Server, option for Microsoft SQL Server

License to use Microsoft SQL Server as a source and target for replication

SAP Sybase Replication Server, option for IBM DB2

License to use DB2 as a source and target for replication

SAP Sybase Replication Server, option for oracle

License to use Oracle as a source and target for replication

SAP Sybase Replication Server, option for SAP HANA

License to use SAP HANA as a target database

Tips:

SRS, Real Time Loading Edition, Heterogeneous Edition, Change Data Capture Edition and HANA Edition already include all Options supported and certified for that use case.

SRS Heterogeneous Edition does not include the Data Assurance Option, or the Advanced Services Option.

It is only necessary to add Options to SAP Sybase Replication Server, Enterprise Edition

Here’s a mapping that describes which options are included in Editions:

Edition

Option

SAP Sybase Replication Server, enterprise edition

None – includes ASE functionality by default (all editions do)

SAP Sybase Replication Server, real time loading edition

Includes Oracle Option – and IQ as a target – ASE functionality by default

SAP Sybase Replication Server, heterogeneous edition

Includes SQL Server, DB2, Oracle options – ASE functionality by default. Advanced Services and Data Assurance Features are not included in this package.

Answering question 2 first – yes, you can use BI4 for Enterprise Reporting!

I would reach out to your SAP Account Executive for clarification, and ask for some pre-sales support.

The only “certified” sources for real time, direct replication into SAP IQ is Oracle, and SAP ASE. Anything else needs to be staged in an interim SAP ASE database – which I’m sure your SAP account team or partner can help with. The SRS, Real Time Loading Edition contains the capabilities of loading into IQ.

There *might* be a way to use the IQ “RLV” functionality to replicate directly into IQ – but, I would work closely with SAP consulting or pre-sales for this.

Just to clarify, Rep server isn’t included with any of the ASE licensing? We’re being told that Rep Server can be used as an HA or DR solution for ASE, but not clear as to what that means from a licensing standpoint.

If you bought ASE runtime licenses for SAP applications, it includes RS licensing and DR components. Otherwise, for custom applications, certain ASE licenses (e.g. DR license) includes RS restricted use licenses for DR sites. Going forward, in ASE 16 sp02 – 2015 Q2-ish time frame, we are going to be releasing a new ASE option for HADR that moves RS more from the DR aspect into a mixed HA and DR aspect with a synchronous rep agent protocol to RS to protect from data loss, fault monitoring, ASE HADR mode, ASE client failover, etc. Tentatively, this HADR option looks like it will be called ASE Data Shield – but that could change, obviously, between now and 2015 Q2-ish

However, in those use cases, when packaged as part of an ASE option, the RS licensing is usually restricted in some way, shape or form. Beyond that, full use RS licensing is needed.

Depends on which package you bought with ERP or HANA ….some “bundles” included RS, but yes, at worst case, you would need RS/HANA edition. Best bet is to ask your Account Rep – or check with Rudi Liebbrandt as he is closest to which SAP bundles included SRS.